Hancock’s comment also begs the question that if Notre Dame is sitting at No. 3 with their lone loss coming to Georgia, could the Bulldogs also lose a game and still be in the CFP top four teams?

Kirby Smart probably doesn’t want to find out, but they will face a tough task Thursday in No. 10 Auburn on the road. One stat on their side is Auburn hasn’t beaten a top-15 team in three years.

CFP Chairman Kriby Hocutt also said Tuesday that what’s keeping Georgia on top of the rankings is that win over the Fighting Irish.

“We spent more time on Georgia and Alabama. Probably a little better test for Alabama this past week than Georgia,” Hocutt said. “The margin of what separates them continues to be close, but the difference continues to be Notre Dame.”

The Bulldogs still have a way to go until the final rankings are revealed, some still don’t think the team is the real deal. Georgia can go a long way toward proving its case Saturday against the Tigers. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. on CBS.